IDEA Spotlight: A Water Filter Easy on the Eyes and the Environment

Of the 35 billion plastic water bottles Americans buy each year, nearly four out of five end up in a landfill or an incinerator. That's a hell of a lot of trash for a few sips of exotic mountain freshness. NewDealDesign's solution: the Tami Bar Primo, which produces plenty of filtered water without damaging the environment. And unlike most kitchen appliances out there, it isn't a spectacular eyesore.

Primo is a sort of souped-up water cooler for your countertop. Using proprietary carbon...